FULBRIGHT FOREIGN STUDENT PROGRAM
Instructions for French Candidates
Fulbright Program Office Contact Information for France :
Madeleine Bouvier d’Yvoire (Head of the French Section)
Emily Resnier (Assistant Program Officer)
Tél : 01 44 14 53 65/69
E-mail : [email protected] / [email protected]
Adresse : Commission franco-américaine, 9 rue Chardin 75016 Paris
Site internet : www.fulbright-france.org
PROGRAMME FULBRIGHT DOCTORANTS :
VISITING STUDENT RESEARCHERS
Bourses de mobilité destinées aux doctorants français inscrits en thèse en France
APPLICATION CYCLE 2017-2018
STEP 1: Learn requirements for submitting an application
All applicants are required to read the FAQ, the program description, and the following instructions for the
“Programme Doctorants” before starting their application.
NB : Ce programme est destiné aux doctorants inscrits en thèse en France et désireux d’effectuer un séjour de recherche
aux Etats-Unis. Si vous souhaitez faire un PhD dans une université américaine, vous devez postuler au programme
étudiants.
Eligibility requirements
To apply for a Graduate Student Award you must:
 Be a French citizen. If you hold another citizenship you must contact the Fulbright Commission in your
citizenship country. If you hold both French and American citizenships you are not eligible to apply to the Fulbright
grant. However, some of our partner foundations will accept your application.
 Be currently enrolled as a doctoral student at a French institution of higher learning.
 Be invited to an American university or research center to conduct research for your doctoral thesis.
 French citizens currently residing in the US are ineligible to apply.
Deadline: The application deadline is February 1, 2017 at midnight for Visiting Student Researchers.
STEP 2: Record user ID and password in a safe place
Your email address is your user ID. When you created an account for this on-line application, you chose a password. An
e-mail was sent to you indicating your User ID and Password. Keep this information in a safe place. You can log in and
out of the application as frequently as you like; however, you must have your user ID and password. While you cannot
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change your User ID, if necessary, you can change your password by clicking on “Update My Account” at the top of the
Home page of this application.
STEP 3: Complete the application
You do not need to complete this application at one sitting. You can re-enter at any time and edit your application. But
remember that once you submit your application, you can NO longer make changes to it.
All forms in this application are to be completed in English except the names of your diplomas and proper names
(universities, etc). Please do not translate university names or diploma names. Items must be answered completely
and carefully.
Some helpful tips:
• Avoid using all capital or lowercase letters when answering items, e.g. name, address, etc. It is better to use
upper and lower case, e.g. Jerome Deschamps.
• In the text boxes, you must limit your responses to the space provided. Information that exceeds the space
provided will not display or print. If what you have typed or copied exceeds the size of the box, you must edit it. It
is a good idea to ‘preview’ each page of your application to make sure that all your data displays.
• You can review each page of the application in its PDF format by clicking on the Preview button on the upper
right-hand corner. Closing out of the PDF view will bring you back to your application.
• You will create essays on pages 4, 5 and 6. On the essay pages, text entered that exceeds the space provided
will display and print.
• You have several ways in which you can create your essays.
- You can compose your essay on-line. Please note, there is a 40-minute ‘time out’ function. In other
words, you will need to either complete your essay in 40 minutes or periodically save your essay. You will
not be able to customize the formatting of your essay.
- You can copy and paste text from another document and edit online. Again, you will have a 40-minute
“time-out” function. You will not be able to customize the formatting.
- You can upload text from another document. This is the only option where you will be able to have
special formatting, e.g. bold, underline, headers, double spacing, etc. While you cannot edit an uploaded
document on-line, you can delete your upload, make your corrections in your document off-line, and
upload again.
- Pages 4 (study objective) and 5 (personal statement) contain a header that displays on the PDF view.
Therefore, you must leave a 1½ inch (4cm) margin at the top of every page of your essays to allow
space for the header that will appear on the print version of your application.
• You should preview all of your essays to make sure the formatting is correct before submitting your application
by clicking the preview button in upper right-hand corner of the screen. When you preview an essay, you must
use the “Back” browser button to return to your essay. Closing out of the HTML preview (i.e. clicking the X in
the upper right-hand corner) will exit you from your application.
• Some questions are ‘required.” In other words, you will not be able to complete and submit your application until
all required items are completed. When you click on the Application Inspector button on the Home page, your
application will be checked for completeness. You will be prompted to enter any missing information on required
questions.
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS
It is very important that the following questions are answered correctly:
• Question 1 – Country of Citizenship: Make sure that you properly identified France as the country
competition (i.e. country of citizenship) to which you are applying.
• Question 2 – Program: Make sure that you correctly identify the Fulbright Program to which you are
applying: Fulbright Foreign Student Program 2017-2018.
• Question 3 – Have you checked with your Fulbright Program Office? : Select « yes » and begin your
online application. We do however ask that candidates review the eligibility criteria for the program to which
they are applying before starting.
• Question 4 – For which academic level are you applying? : Graduate Study
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Item 1—Name: It is very important that you list your name exactly as it appears (or will appear) at the
bottom of your passport within the bar code. (See the sample below.) Please use upper and lower case
when entering your name, e.g. Ron Smith. Also, do not use accents or diacritical markings as this can
sometimes create computer-related problems.
Remember: First name=Prénom / Middle Name=Deuxième prénom(s)/ Last Name=Nom
Item 3 and 4 – Current, Permanent address: If possible indicate your permanent address (i.e. parental home) in
place of your current student address to avoid changes in June. Most communication will be done by email,
please indicate an email address that will not change at the end of the academic year.
Item 5 – Date of Birth: Be sure to indicate your birth date in the American order: Month, Day, and Year.
Item 11—
 Application Cycle: Please select 2017-2018
• Degree Objective: Please select Visiting Student Researcher. This option is for candidates who are
currently working on their thesis in France and wish to do research in the USA.
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Item 14—Institutions Attended: Please list all post-secondary institutions attended in reverse order (putting
the most recently attended first). Do not translate their names. List all post-secondary institutions attended
even those from which you did not achieve a degree.
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Item 24 – Examination Results: If you have already taken the TOEFL or IELTS please indicate the date of the
examination and your results. These tests are optional for Visiting Student Researchers – see page 6 below for
more information.
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Item 27 —Study/Research Objective: The study/research objective description that you provide is an essential
and highly important part of your application. You should take great care to write a clear and very detailed
description of the program or research you want to pursue. Clearly identify the area(s) within your field of study in
which you want to specialize or concentrate. If there is specific research that you want to accomplish, please
describe. Remember to leave a 1½ inch (4 cm) margin at the top of every page to allow room for the header that
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will appear on the PDF view. Preview your essay to check the formatting before submitting your application.
Suggested length: 5 pages.
Note: Please name the host university/universities you have chosen in the United States and explain your
choice(s).
For Ph.D. students, please be very specific and detailed in your research plan.
You MUST specify the proposed host institution(s) even if the online application says the opposite (see
FAQ).
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Item 28 —Personal Statement: The personal statement is a narrative statement in which you can include
information about your education, practical experience, special interests, career plans, and your purpose in
applying for study in the U.S. Again, remember to leave a 1½ inch (4 cm) margin at the top of every page to allow
room for the header that will appear on the PDF view. Preview your essay to check the formatting before
submitting your application.
Suggested length: 5 pages.
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Item 29—Additional Information: Please attach a document containing a CV in French followed by a CV
English. It is advisable to preview your information to check the formatting before submitting your application.
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Item 30—University Transcripts and diplomas: Scan copies of your transcripts and diplomas and upload them
here. We only need higher education transcripts (after the Baccalauréat). If possible try to scan all your
transcripts and diplomas into a single pdf. You can merge and compress files using http://smallpdf.com/fr.
Transcripts and diplomas in French or English do not need to be translated.
If for some reason you’re unable to upload scanned transcripts, you can mail copies directly to the Fulbright
Program Office with your paper application. However we strongly advise candidates to upload their transcripts
online.
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Personal Information: The information provided on this form will be used by the Fulbright Program in your home
country and Fulbright administrative agencies for internal purposes only.
Item 32—National Identification Number: You do not need to enter anything here.
Item 36 – Other Scholarships: Please indicate the other scholarships you are applying to, including private
foundations.
Item 37 – References: Please identify the three people who will write your recommendation letters here. You also
need to register them in Step 5 (e-mail address required).
Item 41—University Preference: Please list your proposed host institution(s) in the US. You must also justify
your choices on Page 4 - Study/Research Objectives and upload an invitation letter from the proposed host(s) on
Page 13 - Additional Upload Page.
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Personal Financial Information: Since the Fulbright grant that may be awarded to you might only cover a
portion of your expenses, you may need to provide funds from your own or other sources. Therefore please
complete this forms completely and accurately as possible based on information that you have at the time of
application. If you should have a major change in your financial resources while your grant is pending, you should
immediately inform the Fulbright Program Office in your country. (The Fiche de synthèse has an estimated budget
table.)
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Country Specific Questions. Please follow the link to download the “Fiche de Synthèse” (2 pages). Once
completed, you can upload it on Page 10 of Part 3 (Country Specific Questions). Please be sure to indicate which
scholarships you are applying for!
ATTENTION: You are automatically a candidate for the Fulbright grant. You can opt out by checking the box on
the Fiche de synthèse : “Vous êtes automatiquement considéré comme candidat à la bourse Fulbright. Si vous ne
souhaitez pas postuler à cette bourse merci de cocher cette case.” Check this box only if you do NOT want to be
considered for a Fulbright grant and wish only to apply for scholarships from our partners.
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Writing sample (optional). If you wish you may add an article you have written in English or in French. Maximum
15 pages please. Please respect this limit and do not submit articles longer than 15 pages!
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Test Scores. Please submit one of the following documents:

TOEFL or IELTS score report

“Report on Proficiency in English” form completed by a professor who is a native English speaker or a
professor of English. Download the form to be completed in Step 4 “Supplemental Forms.”
OR
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Additional Upload Page. Please upload an invitation letter from your proposed host in the United States on this
page.
STEP 4: Supplemental Forms
The following forms can be found by clicking on the Supplemental Forms button on the Home page of this application.
a. Letter of Reference/Recommendation: Your recommenders are not required to use this form. Instead, we
ask that you register them in Step 5 (e-mail address necessary) so that they can submit letters online.
b. Report on Proficiency in English: Visiting Student Researchers can use this form instead of taking the
TOEFL or IELTS. Please ask a professor who is a native English speaker or a professor of English to complete
the form. The assessment can be based on previous English language coursework and English language
classroom discussion.
c. Information Concerning Foreign Student Academic Records: You do not need to submit this form for your
Fulbright application.
d. Transcript Release Form: You do not need to submit this form for your Fulbright application.
e. Signature Form: You must print out, sign, and mail this form to the Franco-American Fulbright Commission
with your paper application. This form does not need to be uploaded to Embark.
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STEP 5: Recommendations
In this section you will register your recommenders to allow them to submit a confidential letter of reference online. Letters
of reference are extremely important! You must have 3 letters submitted on your behalf. No more than 3 will be accepted.
The letters can be written in English or French.
All letters of reference should be written by teachers under whom you have studied or pursued research, or by someone
who has supervised you in work related to your proposed field of study. Your directeur de thèse must be one of your
recommenders. At least one academic and one professional or work related letter should be included among the letters.
Letters of reference should not be written by persons related to you either by blood or marriage or by personal friends.
Your recommenders should complete the recommendation online before February 1. You must click the
“Recommendation” button of the application to register them. Note that an e-mail address is required for each
recommender.

Registered recommenders receive an automated e-mail from Embark with a link to sign in and upload
their letters.

Candidates are not able to access the letters but they can see who has submitted one.

Recommenders can still add letters after the candidate has completed and submitted his/her application.

If one of your recommenders did not receive the e-mail from Embark please submit a request with
Embark Technical Support:
https://embarksupport.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
For additional technical support you may refer to :
https://embarksupport.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/categories/202503757-Recommendation-Help
STEP 6: Application Inspector and Printing
Before you can submit your application electronically, your application will be reviewed for completeness. If there is
missing data, you will be prompted to correct it.
Review a complete PDF version of your application and print 2 copies. Keep 1 copy for your records and mail the 2nd copy
to the Commission with all the supporting documents:
Commission franco-américaine
Programme Fulbright Doctorants
9 rue Chardin
75016 PARIS
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STEP 7: Submit Application
Please note, it is very important that the following questions were answered correctly in the Application Form on Page 1,
Item 11:


Cycle: Make sure that you have selected 2017-2018 as the application cycle.
Degree Objective: Make sure that you have selected Visiting Student Researcher
If you answered a question incorrectly, please correct your answer(s) prior to submitting your application.
After completing this application and thoroughly reviewing it, you will submit it electronically to the Fulbright Program
Office in France. Your application must be submitted online by February 1st at midnight. The paper copy of your
application should be postmarked by February 2nd at the latest.
After submitting your application electronically, you will not be able to make any changes. However, you will be able to
access it in a viewable PDF format and access supplemental forms. You will also be able to print your application and
supplemental forms.
Please make sure to submit your application on time. Late applications will not be accepted.
CONFIRMATION : Once you’ve submitted your application online you will receive an automated email from Embark
stating that “You will also receive a confirmation email from the Fulbright agency in your home country/country of
application to verify that your application has been received.” Due to the large number of applications we receive, please
note that presently Fulbright France does not contact individual candidates to confirm receipt of their application
(electronic or paper).
NOTIFICATION : Candidates will be notified of the results of the preselection and final selection by email. Candidates
selected for an interview will receive a convocation notice by email.
Thank you for applying to the Fulbright Foreign Student Program – Visiting Student Researcher Category !
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